Kenny Miller could be fit for Rangers� next game, Walter Smith has revealed. The striker pulled out of the Scotland squad for today�s qualifier with a hamstring injury but has had an injection which he hopes will clear up the problem.

Kenny Miller could be fit for Rangers' next game, Walter Smith has revealed.

The striker pulled out of the Scotland squad for today's World Cup qualifier against Norway with a hamstring injury but has had an injection which he hopes will clear up the problem which first flared up a month ago.

If it works, the 28-year-old will be in Smith's plans for next Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Dundee United.

Smith, who revealed earlier this week that fit-again captain Barry Ferguson might also be considered for that game, said of Miller: "He played on Sunday but the injury has been aggravating him for quite a while.

"Hopefully the injection will clear that and he'll be ready for the game against Dundee United."

Smith will be hoping the club's other internationalists return from playing for their countries unscathed. The former Scotland coach admits it is "frustrating" to have so many players away at one time, especially as he is still reeling from Sunday's shock SPL defeat at St Mirren.

"When you take into account we have 15 away, plus our injured players, it only leaves us with a handful of players to try to train," he said. "It's not an entirely satisfactory situation but it happens. Every club that has international players suffers from it.

"It's no excuse, it's just a little bit frustrating. Sometimes, if you get a good result before then you don't bother too much but if you get a poor result, you want to get out and get everyone back together again as quickly as possible."

Two of the players away are Americans DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, who play two World Cup qualifiers against Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago in the coming week.

Victory in the first match would ensure they progress from their group, rendering the second game meaningless.

Smith would love the pair to return early if that happens but said: "We're at the mercy of international people in that respect. The Americans have quite a few players playing in Europe at the present moment, so if you leave some out, you may need to leave them all out.

"It's something when you sign an American player, you know you're going to lose them for internationals."

Meanwhile, Smith believes victory for Scotland against Norway today is crucial to their own qualification hopes.

"I think that the home matches will be vital," he said. "They had two away games; one successful, one not so successful. So I think if Scotland can win at home, it will give them a really good chance."